Exam 6: Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint

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The six substages of the sensorimotor stage, as proposed by Jean Piaget, are as follows:

1. Reflexive Stage (0-1 month): During this stage, infants primarily rely on reflexes such as sucking and grasping to interact with the world around them. They are also developing basic sensory abilities.

2. Primary Circular Reactions (1-4 months): Infants begin to repeat actions that bring them pleasure, such as sucking their thumb or kicking their legs. They also start to coordinate their sensory experiences with their motor actions.

3. Secondary Circular Reactions (4-8 months): Infants become more interested in the world around them and start to repeat actions that have an effect on their environment, such as shaking a rattle to make noise. They also begin to develop object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.

4. Coordination of Reactions (8-12 months): Infants start to demonstrate intentional behavior and goal-directed actions. They also begin to understand cause and effect relationships and engage in simple problem-solving activities.

5. Tertiary Circular Reactions (12-18 months): Toddlers begin to explore and experiment with their environment in more complex ways. They may engage in trial-and-error problem solving and demonstrate a greater understanding of object permanence.

6. Mental Representation (18-24 months): This final substage marks the beginning of symbolic thought and the ability to mentally represent objects and events. Toddlers start to engage in pretend play and demonstrate a more advanced understanding of cause and effect relationships.

During each substage, the dominant cognitive activities are reflective of the developmental milestones and abilities that are emerging at that time. These activities include basic reflexes, repetitive actions, intentional behavior, problem-solving, and symbolic thought.